The former artistic director of the Greek National Theater Dimitris Lignadis, suspected of raping minors, was arrested on Saturday, February 20.
According to the arrest warrant, the director and actor is accused of rape and indecent behavior towards minors, which he denies.
He had, moreover, resigned from his functions on February 6, citing a
“toxic climate of rumors, innuendos and leaks”
.
Read also: Indicted for sexual assault and attempted rape, Dominique Boutonnat remains at the head of the CNC
At fifty-six years old, Dimitris Lignadis, is at the center of numerous allegations of sexual abuse of minors.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said on Friday that she had asked the Supreme Court prosecutor to examine the charges, describing the filmmaker as
"a dangerous person"
.
For his part, Dimitris Lignadis' lawyer Nikos Georgouleas said on Saturday that his client rejected the accusations and that he had been arrested after presenting himself to the police.
According to Athens New Agency, a complaint was filed Friday, referring to the rape in 2010 of a fourteen-year-old teenager.
The young man, who is now twenty-five, is the second person to bring such accusations against Dimitris Lignadis, according to the public television channel ERT TV.
Read also: The invisible Artemisia, a woman, an artist and a work in the times of #MeToo
More than three years after the outbreak of the #MeToo movement in the United States, the omerta has been shattered in Greece, notably by Sofia Bekatorou, two-time Olympic sailing medalist.
In December 2020, the athlete declared having been the victim, at the age of 21, of
"sexual harassment and abuse"
by a member of the sailing federation in his hotel room, shortly after. qualifying for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.